‘Tis the season for outdoor winter activities – play safe, stay safe

Update on outdoor rinks, skating trails, sliding hills and more!  

(Fort McMurray, AB – December 16, 2020) – Municipal Parks staff have been busy preparing outdoor winter recreation areas for community members to enjoy over the holiday season and throughout the winter. Beginning Dec. 18, certain outdoor rinks and the Lions Park Skating Trail will be ready for use with some restrictions in effect.

Community members are reminded to play safe and stay safe by following all public health orders, guidelines and rules in place.

Outdoor rink update

Municipal outdoor skating rinks are in the process of being prepared, with some rinks expected to open this weekend. Please do not use outdoor rinks if they’re closed. Doing so creates a safety risk and may damage the ice, resulting in delays opening the rink. Please note, outdoor rinks are closed daily for approximately one to three hours for flooding and regular maintenance.

To align with public health orders and guidelines, shinny or pickup games are currently prohibited.  Please enjoy outdoor rinks safely by:

• Coming ready to skate and leaving personal belongings at home 
• Staying home if you’re feeling unwell
• Keeping two metres of physical distance from members of different households
• Not sharing equipment and other items with others from outside your household
• Carrying and using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
• Following all public health orders and guidelines

Outdoor rinks and park amenities are not sanitized. Please use responsibly and at your own risk.

Find the locations and check the status of outdoor rinks using the Parks and Facilities Map. 

Lions Park Skating Trail

Looking for something to do over the holidays? Enjoy the skating trail downtown at Lions Park with members of your household. The skating trail is free, suitable for all ages and will put you in the festive spirit with the holiday lights overhead!

The skating trail opens this Friday, Dec. 18 and will remain open, weather permitting, 7 days a week until 11 p.m. Please play safe and stay safe by following all public health orders, guidelines and the same rules in place for the outdoor rinks.  

Lights turned on at Timberlea sliding hill

Slide into the night at the Timberlea Community Park as the lights are now being turned on from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. Residents are reminded to maintain two metres of physical distance from others, not share equipment with people from other households and that planned social gatherings outside are currently prohibited. Please play safe by following all public health orders, guidelines and rules in place.  

Groomed winter trails  

There is snow better way to exercise outside this winter than exploring the Birchwood Trails! Certain trails are being groomed for community members to enjoy non-motorized activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling, dog walking and trail running. If cross country skiing, please stay on groomed trails and off other trails in the area. Please ensure to follow all public health orders, guidelines and rules in place while enjoying the trails.  

Find more information on outdoor recreation activities, including a map of all the amenities available, at rmwb.ca/parks

For more information on the municipal response to COVID-19, including service adjustments, visit rmwb.ca/covid-19

AHS remains the leading authority and trusted information source on the region's COVID-19 response. Find current and accurate information at alberta.ca/covid19.

For further information or questions, please contact Pulse at 780-743-7000, toll free 1-800-973-9663 or online at rmwb.ca/pulse

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